222 THE RACOON. 



a * 'coon-bunt ' on a plantation. At night, after the 

 whole day's work was over, the negroes, and perhaps 

 some of the white boys, would call up the dogs, and 

 proceed around the Indian cornfields, two or three of 

 the necjroes carrying;- axes. One or other of the doo-s 

 would generally open soon on the warm scent of a 

 'coon, and the others joining in, they would compel the 

 animal to take a tree, where they would bay him till 

 the breathless negroes could run up. Then on the still 

 night air would rino- out the stroke of the axe as 

 the negroes made the chips fly. Under their sturdy 

 strokes the tree would soon fall, and with it the 

 racoon, and the dogs generally made short work with 

 him. 



As soon as this racoon was secured, the negroes 

 would continue their hunt in search of a fresh one, and 

 very often five or six of these animals, with, maybe, an 

 opossum or two as well, would reward their night's 

 labours. One night I was encamped on the banks of 

 the Brazos river, and, rolled in my blankets under a 

 live-oak tree, I was sleeping the sleep of a tired hunter 

 when I was wakened towards midnight by some curious 

 sounds over head. The night was beautiful, the moon 

 at the full and high in the heavens, and searching the 

 branches of the live-oak by aid of its light, I discovered 

 two large racoons, either fighting or making love ; for 

 they were kicking up a row that two cats on the tiles 

 might have envied. My heavy shot gun was by my 



